Baseball Fundamentals By LESLIE MANN National Director United States Amateur Baseball Association Foreword Substantial progress has been made since launching the United States Amateur Base Ball Association, February 1. 1931. The ob­ jects of the association are to create and maintain a permanent organization repre­ sentative of amateur base ball and of organi­ zations devoted thereto in the United for the purpose of assuring continued intei in amateur base hall, to encourage the stand­ ardization of rules on amateur base hall, and to establish and maintain the highest ideals of amateur base hall. Membership is divided into two clast Active, for home talent intcrtown or city amateur leagues: (2) Allied, for individuals, institutions, and organisations which are national in scope and actively interested in the promotion of amateur base hall. Other organizations or individuals may he admitted provided there is no organization already a member of the association through which they may be represented. The United 8ta1 iation is an allied member of the Amateur Athletic Union, is affiliated with the Municipal Base Hall Asso­ ciation, and is a member of the Amateur Base Ball CongW. Further particulars re­ garding the purpose of the I'nited States Amateur Base Hall Association may he ob­ tained by writing to Leslie Mann. National Director,24 PenwickStreet,Springfield, Mass. Baseball Builds Character. DR. EDGAR FAUVER Professor Physical Education Weski/an University "Baseball is purely American in origin and Spirit. Baseball is a challenge to our Spirit of "Dean to Win." Baseball makes a definite educational con­ tribution to the cause of good citizenship, thus teaching Sportsmanship, fair play, cooperation, courage, self sacrifice; it de­ mands physical fitnessand finecoordination; causes mental activity and alertness; affords good exercise, teaches body control and develops instant decision." yr. < ~><A/<tr rfimiM- AVERY BRUNDAGE University of Illinois Star, World's Champion PresidentoftheA.A. U. President of the A 0. A. "Code of Ideals" Keep the Rules. Keep Faith with your Comrade. Keep your Temper. Keep yourself Fit. Keep a Stout Heart under Defeat. Keep your Pride under in Victory. Keep a Sound Soul, a Clean Mind and a Healthy Body. BATTING General Stance of Batter Leslie Mann demonstrating the general standing osition of the Catter. Feet apart at a distaui'i' that is comfortable and si|uari'lv upon both feet. The knees are straight but not flinched nor stress placed upon them to keep them straight. Be relaxed. The weight of the body is equally distri­ buted upon both feet. Leslie Mann - Cardinal* DIAGRAM 1 standing/ Positions and Strides m Batters Box Srlccling a proper position in Bo* 1. Outside Hear. Rogers Hornsby. 2. Front Middle. Walter "Rabbit" Maranville. 3. Middle Rear (Most Common) "Pie" Trynor. 1 Middle Inside (Popular) Eddie Roush. 5. Front Middle (Unpopular). 6. Center Middle (Unpopular). 7. Outside Rear (Left Hander) "Jim" Bottomley. B. Middle Rear (Left Hander). 8 Inside Rear (Left Hander). STRIDING 1 Spraddle stride - No step­ ping. 2. Normal stride - Body is balanced all the time. 1 aulty stride - Swinging legs or step too long. I Step with front foot, toe diagonally toward the pitcher. Shoulders on level line all the time. A slight bailing forward and downward with boot shoulder, just as the bat is lifted off shoulder into start nf twinging position Del Galnor Eyes and face look directly out towards the Pitcher all the time. Before the swing (eye* on the ball until it arrives at that imaginary point that the bat swings into the ball). Follow ball off the bat. Keep face front­ wards towards field of pla-i alwavs. E. Roush - "Cincinnati' STRIDING - Continued "Pulling the feet in the bucket". Stepping forward and back, away from the pitcher. Handicap pitching strategv defensive text lHK)k) J. Haines "Cardinals' Off balance .lars clear fur Pitcher. Dangerous. Incorrect form pitching strategy Defen­ sive text l>ook). J. Fournier - "linxiklyn' B«.t i»rii\f "P\«.c* l|.n<»? B*ii« Timing the Hat s«i "? 1. Rest bat upon shoulder while waiting for the pitch. 2. Lift bat up and backward. Big and of bat is held directly back of the head (see photo 6) starting point of swing is /em (see illustration aba 3. Swing bat on as level a plane around into the ball as possible. Bat swings in a circular plane up to, and until it meets the ball line then the bat moves on a straight illjto until ball is met iSee illustration B' to H" B'—Foul hits. B1 -Place hitting to right field. H" Place hitting to Center field. B«— Place hitting to left field. Place hitting is controlled by the mind, which controls timing of the swing of the bat. 1 test for how to play for each i BUNTING AND SACRIFICING Bat placed at arms length out in front of body. Bat on level plane. Right hand (or left hand) pushed half ways up the bat for balance. Bat is held firmly by pinching the index finger and thumb around the bat. The hand is held loosely around the bat at the handle. Result: A soft rebound of the ball off the bat. Del Gainor - Cardinals Safe Bunt Areas A - B - Territory to bunt balls for sacrificing. C - D - Territory to bunt balls for Base hits. No. 1 - Safe Bunt place. 3rd. Base Line. Grooves for safe hits Illustration shows infield "grooves" and safety zones for bunts. Hard hit balls following the direction of ties.- •grooves" ought to go safe. Numlsr 1. Base hits over third base. Numlsr J Between third baseman and short stop. Number 3. - Through pitcher's territory over second l>aae. Numlxr 1 - Between second baseman and first baseman. Numlnr a Over tirst base. IV Safety bunt areas. (See defensive text how to eat'down' site hit irr. BASE RUNNING finish of batting swim: showing start of base running and advantage the left handed batter has over the right handed batter. R. Blades - B. Shot ton Kirst stride of Right Handed Batter. Perfect body control on follow thru saves seconds in the dash for first R. BLADES "Cardinals" I ir-t stride of.. left Handed Batter. B. Shotlon - Mgr. Phillies Run directly upon foul line from home ha- lirst base. Jim Bottomley "Cardinals' Baae runner should keep Ins foot upon the first baae when looking around for signals. Del Gainor - W. Holke Correct lead off - first base by baae runners. Learn what a perfect baserunner's starting posi­ tion ought to be. Del Gainor - R. Blades Rounding first Base in circling the bases. B i •• runner should start to •warrs out of the base fine about 2.5 hing first base. The I wail u should be wide enough to allow base runner to hit the bag and dash on a straight line towards • id base. Rav Blades "Cardinals" Base runners should be prepared to "slide" "hit the dirt" approaching every base. Runner should direct his momen­ tum straight into t he bag. Fd Roush - Joe Schultz • IWCaw<aet BASE RUNNING Solid line correct line for base runner. Dotted fine—Incorrect fine for base runner. To circle the bases at top speed calls for: 1. Timing in strides. 2. Swerving at proper time before reaching base. 3. Tagging base with proper foot. 4. Runner should hear or see - coacher about 25 feet before he gets to base. •5. Keep eye upon base until tagged. •i. Run in a straight line between bases. 7. Dotted line shows—no thinking—by baserunner. SLIDING Jack Smith - "Cardinals" Plaver should throw his body out of line with the momentum directly into the bag. Throw the shoulders to left or right. Slide on fat part of lower leg, side or thigh. Slide the edge of the shoe, of foot missing the bag, on it's side as a skate. Tag with the top or "instep" of other foot along front edge of bag. er show your spikes to the bag. LEARN THE DIFFERENT SLIDES. 1. Arm Hook (when to use) 3. Fall Away. 2. Head Dive (when to use) 4. Quick Hook. {Set Dtftmit* BooUtt) Klem - Umpire - Groh - Max Carey Always slide away from baseman. Player has failed to throw his body away from directly behind rive into home base. A CLOSE PLAY AT HOME EVASIVE SLIDE Ed Roush Joe Schultz START OF EVASIVE SI IDE Flying through the air. Body under complete control just before player reaches base—momentum is shifted so that when be hits the dirt, the left leg is raised or pulled away from base and slides out away crossing the foul line extended, indicated by the scraped portion on ground. Missing base entirely. Quick action is now called for Eddie Roush Joe Schultr FINISH OF EVASIVE SLIDE Come back into bag by touching it with the hand. QUESTIONS 1. What type of bat should a player select? 2. What is a good batting /"* 3. Where should beginners attempt to drive the ball? 1. Name the different "stance- :>. What is a good "stride ti. Explain perfect body control in batting. 7. Where is batting controlled? Results. BASE RUNNING 1. Why is a slow runner as effective as a fast runner? 2. Kxplain running the hases. Circling the bases. •\. List of factors that aid in stealing second, third and home. 1. Explain the "Delayed steal". "Double steal." SLIDING I Name the different kinds of "slides." 2. When do you use the "Quick Hook". Arm Hook? 3. Explain Body control sliding into a base. I. Where should the "Arms" he while sliding? .">. Name the smartest slide. Explain. .